LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - August 26, 2010) - Freakonomics, the highly anticipated film version of the internationally bestselling book about incentives-based thinking by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt, hits theaters on October 1, 2010, but anxious moviegoers can now view the film's trailer at http://www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/. Produced by Green Film Company and distributed by Magnolia Pictures, Freakonomics features a dream team of Academy Award® and Sundance Film Festival winning directors and will be distributed across all platforms in a concentrated timeframe.
Like the book, the film examines human behavior with provocative and occasionally hilarious case studies. For those who read the book but are looking for something fresh, Freakonomics also covers entirely new ground. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp) balance levity and candor with their eye-opening profile of underachieving kids incentivized to learn with cold hard cash. Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) delivers a visually arresting look at the crumbling facade of Sumo wrestling. Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) offers up a buoyant and revealing angle on the repercussions of baby names. Finally, Eugene Jarecki (Why We Fight) investigates an unsettling theory to explain why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early 90s. Seth Gordon (The King of Kong) weaves the pieces together with brisk interludes, providing context and commentary from the authors.
Not only does the film showcase six of the world's most respected filmmakers, it also boasts an unprecedented distribution strategy that allows moviegoers to enjoy the film in several ways: at home, on their digital device of choice, and at the theater. Beginning on September 3, 2010 -- four weeks prior to theatrical release on October 1, 2010 -- Freakonomics will be available through Magnolia On Demand and for download in iTunes. This is the first time in cinematic history that Apple has partnered with a film prior to its theatrical release.
Producer Chad Troutwine saw cinematic potential in the surprise bestseller. "With Freakonomics, Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt promised to reveal the hidden side of everything, and they delivered a brilliant book that achieved mainstream success," extols Chad Troutwine, the Producer of the cinematic adaptation. "Similarly, our film Freakonomics seeks to achieve broad appeal by examining every day topics like parenting, cheating, and bribery without abandoning the economics research that legitimized the book. This is a golden era for non-fiction filmmaking, and Freakonomics showcases the best non-fiction filmmakers in the world. Moreover, our film is a distribution pioneer. Consumers will have their pick of formats -- video on demand, download from iTunes, or an unmatched theatrical experience -- all available at the same time."
The trailer for Freakonomics is now available at http://www.magpictures.com/freakonomics/, along with other film details, theater screening schedule, and resources for purchasing movie tickets online.
About Freakonomics
What began as an article by Stephen J. Dubner about economist Steven D. Levitt in 2003 became one of the best-selling books of the last decade and is now one of the most compelling films of the year. Freakonomics examines human behavior through the lens of statistics and incentives, rather than morals and ethics, illuminating surprising and controversial conclusions. Producer Chad Troutwine and his Green Film Company partners Dan O'Meara and Chris Romano assembled a team of powerhouse directors to tackle this provocative material in a singular cinematic experience. Like its literary counterpart, Freakonomics explores the hidden side of everything, debunking conventional wisdom, and revealing what answers may come if one just asks the right questions.
About Green Film Company
Green Film Company is a New York-based producer of film and television. The company's first project By The People: The Election of Barack Obama was co-produced with Edward Norton's Class 5 Films, and picked up by HBO Documentary Films, BBC and Sony Pictures Worldwide. The company's current projects Freakonomics and Gerrymandering will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival followed by their theatrical release during 2010. Green Film Company is backed by private equity financing and is developing film and television projects, both narrative and non-fiction, with some of the most respected writers and filmmakers in the business.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Lisa Weiner
303.433.7020
